Reds Leave it Late to Secure Home Win

Linlithgow 31 – 18 Penicuik

Saturday 10 September 2016

Linlithgow opened up their home campaign in BT East 1 league against newly promoted Penicuik. Both teams had lost their opener and were keen to get points on the board. Linlithgow welcomed debutants Eric Williams, newly arrived from the USA at centre and youngster Lauchlan McCall at hooker. The team was led out by mascots Charlie, Elliot and Alfie Muir (see below).

The game started in blazing sunshine with the participants of the ladies lunch looking on. Linlithgow started brightly, and kept the away side penned in their own half for lengthy periods. Cammy Walker had a great run down the wing, and there were a couple of other good breaks. Unfortunately for Linlithgow, the defence held out, and the Reds had to settle for a penalty, Jack Frame slotting home.

As the half wore on, Linlithgow were still pressing and one of the Penicuik players was binned for a tip tackle. Frame doubled the score with another penalty. Soon after, Linlithgow were awarded another penalty close to the Penicuik line. Instead of taking the points they chose to tap. Williams was unlucky to be stopped short of the try line. However, Linlithgow were awarded another penalty and chose to go for touch. Linlithgow lost the line out and the visitors raced up the park and after several phases of play went over to score in the corner, the conversion being missed.

The half wasn’t over as Frame added a third penalty and, in the final minute, Linlithgow nearly scored in the corner when Ross Plenderleith was tackled into touch one metre short after a 30 metre run.

Sean Hagerty rises for the ball

Half time: Linlithgow 9 – 5 Penicuik

The second half seemed different from the first, with both teams playing open rugby and, at one time, it looked as though the result could have gone either way.

The visitors reduced the deficit with a penalty, before Ross Martin went over near the corner, Frame missing the long conversion. Penicuik reduced the deficit again with another penalty and then took the lead when they got the nudge on a 5 metre scrum which ended in a mess over the Reds line, referee Iain Young correctly awarding a penalty try to Penicuik which they converted.

At 14-18 down and the game moving into the final quarter, things looked ominous for the home side. However the Reds rallied magnificently as the whole team were involved in several forages forward, none more so than captain and man-of-the match Stuart Bell. Following a great run by Jack Frame and some good follow up play, Chris Ronalson went over near the posts and Frame duly converted. Frame added another penalty before getting himself a try late in the game after excellent set up work by Ronalson, picking a great line to cut back inside the covering Penicuik defence at pace and crash over the whitewash for a try which he converted himself.

This was a great victory in the end and while the score looks convincing, it was only that way in the last quarter.

P5s Win Livingston Tournament

Stuart’s Squad Report

Today my team comprised the following players:Daniel, Fraser, Jake, Marc, Adam, Ruan, Ollie and Harry with guest appearances put in by Big Jack and Jamie when we suffered a couple of injuries towards the end of the day.

Our pool consisted of Linlithgow, Livingston, Dalziel, Kinross and Kirkcaldy. Falkirk were due to play but didn’t turn up.

First up for us was Livingston, which after some early tries we treated as a warm-up, giving Harry his first competitive outing in what was only his fourth day playing rugby. He quickly got that hang of the game and has already started making some excellent tackles. Most of the team ran in a try and we won the game comfortably lots to nil.

Our next game was against Kirkcaldy. This was a new opponent for us who had some quick players. However, our defence proved to be strong, especially with tackling and counter-rucking, and with some excellent running, supporting and passing we managed to beat them by 3 scores.

Next up was Dalziel, another new team for us, and who we felt were the team to beat in the group. They had three biggish players and one very good runner. Again, our defence didn’t let the big guys get into the game and we passed from side to side of the pitch, with some excellent off-loads and great supporting play. We ended up winners by four scores to two and received high praise from the Dalziel coaches who, while never liking to lose, said they loved watching our boys play and were satisfied to have lost to a really well-drilled team that played some of the best rugby they had seen!

Our last game in the pool was against Kinross. On a couple of occasions we left a gap in defence which was well exploited by the Kinross runner. Our wonderful cover tackles all over the pitch couldn’t prevent them from taking the game, which they won 3-2. We felt that we wouldn’t progress to the final as Kinross had won all their games except a draw with Dalziel. However, in the last game Kirkcaldy played out of their skin against Kinross and ended up beating them 4-2, which meant we were through to the final.

In the final we played the winners of the second pool, Edinburgh Accies. This was a hard game against a really well-drilled side that tackled very well and were strong in the ruck. However, our determination and team-spirit really showed through, with everyone defending to the last. In attack we ran the ball wide, made strong runs through the opposition and off-loaded brilliantly resulting in us running out 4-2 winners. The boys were exhausted at the end but were delighted with the win.

Today was a testament to teamwork. Everyone worked for each other, whether it be supporting runners, offloading to team mates, getting back to make tackles or winning rucks. The rugby played today was a joy to watch and the boys were worthy winners. Well done everyone!

Edinburgh Rugby Blitz Linlithgow School of Rugby

9th December 2015

John Hardie and Phil Burleigh of Edinburgh Rugby visited Linlithgow Rugby Club as part of Edinburgh’s Blitz Day, taking professional players out into the community. They were involved in training sessions with the School of Rugby S1s and S2s and took the opportunity to promote the upcoming 1872 Cup first leg match Edinburgh Rugby v Glasgow Warriors at Murrayfield on Sunday 27th December. Edinburgh are current holders of the cup and the two New Zealand born players will be looking to keep it in the capital by helping Edinburgh to win over the two legs during the Christmas Holidays.

John Hardie joined the Scotland squad in the summer and made a huge impact in the Rugby World Cup as a highly combative open-side flanker. He joined Edinburgh Rugby on a professional contract after the World Cup. Phil Burleigh has already had a season with Edinburgh and has moved from centre to stand-off this season, becoming a key player in the Edinburgh back division.

Both John and Phil were born in New Zealand, on the South Island, and both played Super Rugby for the current champion Highlanders who play in Dunedin.

Linlithgow Rugby Club has strong links with New Zealand with former All Black captain and former NZ Rugby President Andy Leslie a long-time honorary member of the Club – his father hailed from Linlithgow and was a goalkeeper with Hibs before emigrating to New Zealand. Andy’s two sons, brought up in New Zealand, both went on to represent Scotland in the late 90s.

The Edinburgh Rugby Blitz Day saw most of the current squad out into the schools to promote links between the professional club and the community. Over 13,000 tickets have already been sold for the first leg of the 1872 Cup. Club members can buy tickets using a special link, which generates a commission for the Club. It promise to be a great day so come along and enjoy the occasion!